PBA Smash Pilipinas’ Nestor Tapales and Alyssa Geverjuan wrested control early then held off second seed Mike Minuluan and Aires Montilla’s fightback, 21-18, 21-19, to barge into the quarterfinal round of the Open mixed doubles in the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the CW Home Depot Ortigas in Pasig Wednesday.
Tapales and Geverjuan put on a superb all-around game to send the National U-Team Prima/DLSU pair on the defensive then came through with clutch shots to finish off their rivals in 28 minutes and arrange a Last 8 duel with Melvin Llanes and Eleanor Inlayo.
The UP tandem also pulled off a surprise 19-21, 22-20, 21-14 decision over Kevin Cudiamat and Mariya Sevilla to stay in the hunt for the top P120,000 purse in the top-ranking event sponsored by the country’s premier gaming and amusement center Bingo Bonanza.
Top seed Alvin Morada and Alyssa Leonardo of PBA Smash rolled past Marco Santiaguel and Alysa Desacola, 21-12, 21-6, to seal a quarters clash with Hanz Bernardo and Channel Lunod, who turned back JC Clarito and Christine Garin, 17-21, 21-15, 21-16.
Also advancing were Ronel Estanislao and Indonesian Keshya Hanadia, Paul Vivas and Thea Pomar, Peter Magnaye and Devi Permatasari, also of Indonesia, and Ros Pedrosa and Sarah Barredo.
Estanislao and Hanadia beat Jerome Pechera and Danica Bolos, 21-14, 21-2; Vivas and Pomar repulsed Andrei Babad and Gelita Castilo, 16-21, 21-12, 21-14; Magnaye and Permatasari routed Sito Fernandez and Angela Ramos, 21-3, 21-13; and Pedrosa and Barredo held off Roberto Pineda and Jessie Francisco.
In men ‘s singles, Alem Palmares of National U upended No. 8 Wilson Lopez of UP, 21-12, 15-21, 21-16, to join the charge of the big guns in the third round, including No. 2 Frell Gabuelo, third seed Ros Pedrosa, No. 4 Orlan Ticala and fifth seed R-Jay Ormilla.
Gabuelo dominated Rabie Oba-ob, 21-14, 21-8; Pedrosa smothered Jerickson Oba-ob, 21-16, 21-12; Ticala overpowered Michael Saragena, 21-12, 21-14; and Ormilla whipped Joshua Antonio, 21-4, 21-8.
Meanwhile, action heats up in the men’s and women’s Open singles today (Thursday) with top seeds and PBA Smash Pilipinas mainstays Kevin Cudiamat and Sarah Joy Barredo gunning for quarterfinal berths in their respective divisions.
Cudiamat, who drew an opening round bye then survived JC Clarito, 23-25, 21-10, 21-13, faces Cris Sanchez at 10 a.m., while Barredo sets out against Anna Macabenta at 11:40 a.m. in the featured matches in Day Four of the top-ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by president Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.
In other matches, No. 2 Frell Gabuela tangles with Jerome Pechera, third seed Ros Pedrosa clashes with Lanz Zafra; No. 4 Orlan Ticala squares off with Carlo Remo; No. 5 R-Jay Ormilla collides with Benny Divinagracia; and sixth ranked Solomon Padiz Jr. takes on Christian Cuyno.
In women’s singles, No. 2 Mariya Sevilla battles Malvinne Alcala at 2 p.m.; third seed Nicole Albo faces Bianca Carlos; and No. 4 Charmane Salvador clashes with Angelique Ramos.